Foldable farm-gate.



No. 781,109. PATENTED JAN. 31, 1905.

1?. Q. STUART. FOLDABLE FARM GATE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 27. 1904. I

3 SHEETS-BHBET l- PATENTED JAN. 31,1905.

P. Q. STUART.

- FOLDABLE FARM GATE.

APPLIUA TION FILED SEPT. 27, 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' PATENTED JAN. 31, 1905.

P. Q. STUART. FOLDABLE FARM GA-TE. APPIQIOATION FILED SEPT. 27, 1904'.

'a SHEETS-SHEET a .L mm

' UNI ED STATES Patented January 31, 1905.

PATENT O FICE.

FRANK Q. STUART, OF CHARITON, IOWA.

FOLDABLE FARM-GATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 781,109, dated January31, 1905.

Application filed September2'7, 1904. $erial No. 226,242. 7 i

To all whom, it Wwty concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK Q. STUART, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chariton,

at pleasure; second, to provide means to en able a person whileadvancing toward the gate on horseback or on a vehicle to unlock andopen the gate by simply seizing a handle suspended from the end of arope and retaining hold thereof until the gate is opened and after hehas passed through the open gatewayto seize another handle on the end ofanother rope to close the gate as he passes away therefrom; third, toprovide a locking-latch that resist the pressure of animals or wind onthe sides of the gate; fifth, to provide mechanism equally well adaptedfor operating a gate composed of two or four panels or sections hingedtogether and to a post and to fold against the post in opening thegateway.

Myinvention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combinationof parts and subcombinations, as. hereinafter set forth, pointed out inmy claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which IFigure l is a perspective view of the gate in position as required forpractical use. Fig. 2 is a top view of a gate composed of four sectionsin a closed and locked position, and dotted lines indicate theposition-of the gate when open. Fig. 3 is a modification of Fig. 2 andshows two gate-sections hinged together and each section connected witha slidable bar by rods. Fig. 4 shows the upper end portion of the maingate-post and the manner of the manner of connecting the ends of theropes with the slidable bar. Fig. 6 shows a gate consisting of foursections in a closed position and the positions of all the operativeparts relative to each other and the hinged sections and fixedgate-posts. Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view of Ethe post to whichthe front end of the gate is locked when the gate is in a closedposition and shows how the lockinglatch is formed and combined with thegate and latch operating mechanism. Fig. 8 is a top view that shows howthe front end of the gate is locked to the latch-post. Fig. 9 shows howthe latch-operating mechanism is conneoted with the slidable bar that inits reciprocating movements pulls and pushes the gate alternately inopen and closed positions. Fig. 10 shows the gate-latch in a verticalposition as occurs by force of gravity when the gate is open. Fig. 11 isaperspective view of the gate-support and fenders at the bottom of thelatch-post at the front end of the gate.

The numerals 1O designate four panels or gate-sections hinged togetherand to the main post 12, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6. It is obvious thatthe gate-sections may be made ofstraight pieces of wood in the mannershown or may be of metal frames, with wire rods fixed to the frames. Thehinges used to connect the sections with one another and with the mainpost may also vary as desired and as required to suit wooden or metalgates. A mortise or aperture in the post 12 serves asa bearing for astraight bar 13, that is extended' therethrough, as shown in Fig. 5, tobe connected with the gate'and the ropes for operating the bar and gateas required in opening and closing the gate.

Links 14, provided with hooks at their ends, are pivotally connectedwith lugs or metal loops 15, fixed to the sides of the front end of thesliding bar 13, as shown in Fig. 2, and screw-eyes l6, projecting inwardfrom the rear gate-sections 10, as shown in Fig: 2.

A cross-head or straight barl7 is fixed to the top of the post 12 andbraces 18 fixed to its ends and to the post, as shown in Fig. 4, or inany suitable way as required to support and direct ropes 19 and 20 upondirectionpulleys 21, connected with said bar and connected with a stop22, fixed to the central portion of the slidable bar 13, as shown inFigs. 2 and 5, or in any suitable way in such a manner that when apulling force is applied to pendent handles 23 on the ends of the ropes19 and 20 the slidable bar 13 will be drawn forward as required tounfold the gate from its open position (indicated by dotted lines inFig. 2) and extend it forward to be automatically latched or locked tothe fixed gate-post 24:, as shown in Figs. 2 and 6.

' Ropes 2 1 and 25 are extended over pulleys 26, as shown in Fig. 4c,and connected with the ends of a coupling 27, that is slidably mountedon the front end of the slidable bar 13, as shown in Fig. 9, and thefront end of the coupling is connected with an elbow-shapedlocking-latch 28 by a chain 29, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, in such amanner that when a pulling force is applied to the pendent handles 30 onthe free ends of the ropes 19 and 20 the latch will first be actuated asrequired to unlock it, and the slidable bar 13 will then be drawnrearward to fold the gate-sections 10 upon each other and into positionas indi cated by dotted lines in Fig. 2 and as required to open thegateway between the main post 12 and the latch-post 31 at the front ofthe gate.

The post 31 has a cavity, mortise, or aperture 32 to admit the free endof the latch 28 as required to engage a striker 33, fixed to the post,as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, or in any suitable way as required to lockthe gate to the post.

An inclined support 34 is fixed to the bottom of the latch-post 31 toengage the bottom of the front end of the gate to lift it as it isadvanced forward to be latched and locked to the post, and fenders 35are fixed to the support to aid in directing the movements of the gateand prevent it from being pressed laterally by animals or wind. Veights36 are fixed to the ropes 24C and 25 to counterbalance the woodenhandles 30 on their ends as required to keep the ropes stretched overthe pulleys and to allow for the shrinking and contracting of the ropesincident to getting wet and to deliver through the sliding eoupling andthe chain the required slack in the rope to insure the automaticlatching or locking of the gate.

Braces 37 are fixed to the braces 18 and a fence-post 38, as shown inFigs. 2 and 6. A bearing for the slidable bar 13 is provided in the formof an aperture in the post 38 and antifriction-rollers 39, connectedwith the post, as shown in Fig. 6, or in any suitable way as required tosupport and guide the bar in its reciprocating movements. Anantifriction-roller 40 is also connected with the post 12, as shown inFig. 4, to aid in supporting the slidable bar and to facilitate itsmovements back and forth.

The latch 28 is supported by a cross-bar 4:1, fixed thereto andsupported upon the front or end sections of the gate and retainedconnected with said sections by means of loops 4,2, fixed to saidsections, as shown in Fig. 8, or in any suitable way in such a manner aswill allow the cross-bar to slide in the loops as the gate is opened andclosed as required to accommodate itself to the varying positions of thegate-sections relative to each other. When the gate is open and foldedinto position, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2, the latch 28 willby force of gravity assume the position in which it is shown in Fig. 10.where it is on top of a hinge, and when either one of the ropes 2e and25 is pulled the latch will be drawn into horizontal position asrequired to engage the striker 33, as shown in Fig. 7, when the gate isclosed.

It is obvious that by hinging two bars together and to a gate-post tobend outwardly to the right of the post and hinging two bars togetherand to the same post to bend outwardly to the right of the same post andhinging the two pairs of bars thus hinged together and to a posttogether at their free or front ends and connecting operative mechanismtherewith two gate-sections may be fixed to one pair of the hinged barsto produce a complete gate, as shown in Fig- 3, or two gate-sections maybe fixed to each pair of hinged bars, as shown, to produce a doublegate, as shown in Fig. 1.

Having thus set forth the purpose of my invention and the constructionand function of each element and subcombination, the arrangement andcombination of all the parts and the practical operation and utility ofthe invention will be readily understood by farmers and others familiarwith the art to which it pertains.

WV hat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a foldable gate, two bars hinged together and one of them hingedto a post to extend horizontally to fold inward toward each other and toprojectat right angles from the right of the post when folded, two barshinged together and one of them hinged to a post to extend horizontallyto fold inward to each other and to project at right angles from theleft of the post and the two pairs of hinged bars hinged together attheir front ends, a slidable bar connected with the post, rods pivotallyconnected with the slidable bar and with the rear parts of the bars thatare hinged together to fold in opposite directions and means for movingthe slidable bar backward and forward, arranged and combined to operatein the manner set forth, for the purposes stated.

2. In a foldable gate, four mating gate-see- ICC with the rear sectionsof the gate and means to Operate theslidable bar, arranged and combinedfor the purposes stated.

3. In a foldable. gate, afixed post provided with a bearing for aslidable bar, four gate-sections hinged together and the rear ends oftwo of said sections hinged to the post, a slidable bar, rods pivotallyconnected with the front end of the slidable bar and with the reargatesections, a coupling slidably connected with the front end of theslidable bar, a latch pivotally connected with the free end of the gate,a chain connected with the latch and the slidable coupling and. tworopes connected with the rear end of the coupling, to operate in themanner set forth for the purposes stated.

I. In a foldable gate, a fixed post provided with a bearing for aslidable bar, four gate-sections hinged together and the rear ends oftwo of said sections hinged to the post, a slidable bar, rods pivotallyconnected with the front end of the slidable bar and with the reargatesections, a coupling slidably connected with the front endof theslidable bar, a latch pivotally connected with the free end of. thegate, a chainconnected-with the latch and the slidable coupling and tworopes connected with the rearend of the coupling, and directionpulleysconnected with the post to support the ropes, arranged and combined tooperate in the manner set forth for the purposes stated.

5. In a foldable gate, a fixed post provided with a bearing foraslidable bar, four gate-sec tions hinged together and the rear ends oftwo of said sections hinged to the post, a slidable bar, rods pivotallyconnected with the front end of the slidable bar and with the reargatesections, a coupling slidably connected-with the front end of theslidable bar, a latch pivotally connected with the free end of the gate,

a chain connected with the latch and the slidable coupling and two ropesconnected with the rear end of the coupling, two ropes connected withthe central portion of the slidable bar and direction-pulleys connectedwith the post to support the ropes, arranged and combined to operate inthe manner set forth for the purposes stated.

' 6. In a foldable gate, a fixed post provided with a'bearing for aslidable bar, four gate-sections hinged together and the rear ends oftwo of said sections hinged to the post, a slidable bar, rods pivotallyconnected with the frontconnected with the rear end of the coupling, tooperate in the manner set forth.

7 In a foldable gate, a fixed post provided with a bearing for aslidable bar, four gate-sec= tions hinged together and the rear ends oftwo of said sections hinged to the post, a slidable bar, rodspivotallyconnected with the front end of the slidable bar and with therear gatesections, a coupling slidably connected with the front endofthe slidable bar, a latch pivotally connected with the free end of thegate, a chain connected with the latch and the slidable coupling and tworopes connected with the rear end of the coupling, two ropes connectedwith the central portion of the slidable bar and direction-pulleysconnected with the post to support the ropes, and a post in rear of themain post provided with a bearing for the slidable bar, arranged andcombined to operate in the manner set forth for the purposes stated. I

1 8. In a foldable gate, a fixed post provided with a bearing for aslidable bar, four gate-sections hinged together and the rear ends oftwo of-said sections-hinged to the post, a slidable bar, rods pivotallyconnected with the front end of the slidable barand with thereargatesections, a coupling slidably connected with the front end of theslidable bar, a latch pivotally'connected with the free end of the gate,5

a chain connected with the latch and the slidable coupling, two ropesconnected with the rear end of the coupling and weights connected withthe two ropes above the slidable bar, to operate in the manner set forthfor the purposes stated.

9. Ina foldable gate, a fixed post provided I with a bearing for aslidable bar, four gate-sec tions hinged together and the rear ends oftwo of said sections hinged to the post, a slidable bar, rods pivotallyconnected with the front end of the slidable bar and with the reargatesections, a coupling slidably connected with the front end of theslidable bar, a latch pivotally connected with the free end of the gate,a chain connected with the latch and the slidable coupling, two ropesconnected with the rear end of the coupling, t'wo ropes connected withthe central portion of the slidable bar, direction-pulleys connectedwith the post to support the ropes, and handles pendent from the freeends of the ropes, arranged and combined to operate in the manner setforth for the purposes stated. v 10. In a foldable gate, a fixed postprovided with a bearing for aslidable bar, four gate-sections hingedtogether and the rear ends of two of said sections hinged to the post,aslidable bar, rods pivotally connected 7 with the front end of theslidable bar and with therear gatesections", a coupling slidablyconnected with the front end of the slidable bar, a latch pivotallyconnected with the free end of the gate,

or aperture and astriker fixed across the cavity to engage the latch, aninclined gate-support at the lower end of the post, two ropes connectedwith the rear end of the coupling, two ropes connected with the centralportion of the slidable bar, direction-pulleys connected with the postto support the ropes and handles pendent from the free ends of theropes, arranged and combined to operate in the manner set forth for thepurposes stated.

11. In a foldable gate, a fixed post provided with a bearing for aslidable bar, four gate-sections hinged together and the rear ends oftwo of said sections hinged to the post, a slidable bar, rods pivotallyconnected with the front end of the slidable bar and with the reargatesections, a coupling slidably connected with the front end of theslidable bar, a latch pivotally connected with the free end of the gate,a chain connected with the latch and the slidable coupling, a postprovided with a cavity or aperture and a striker fixed across the cavityto engage the latch, an inclined gate-support at the lower end of thepost, two ropes connected with the rear end of the coupling, two ropesconnected with the central portion of the slidable bar,direction-pulleys connected with the post to support the ropes, handlespendent from the free ends of the ropes, and fenders fixed t0 the sidesof the inclined support, arranged and combined to operate in the mannerset forth for the purposes stated.

12. In a foldable gate, a fixed post provided with a bearing for aslidable bar,four gate-sections hinged together and the rear ends of twoof said sections hinged to the post, a slidable bar, rods pivotallyconnected with the front end of the slidable bar and with the reargatesections, a coupling slidably connected with the front end of theslidable bar, a latch pivotally connected with the free end of the gate,a cross-bar fixed to the latch, means for adjustably connecting the endsof the cross-bar with the front ends of the front sections of the gate,a chain connected with the latch and the slidable coupling, and tworopes connected with the rear end of the coupling, to operate in themanner set forth for the purposes stated.

13. In a foldable gate, gate-sections hinged to a post provided with abearing for a slidable bar, a slidable bar, rods pivotally connectedwith the slidable bar and the two rear gate-sections hinged to the post,a latch pivotally connected with the two front sections of the gate, arope slidably connected with the front end of the slidable bar and alsoconnectedwith the latch, and means for o )erating the rope to slide thebar and to operate the latch, as set forth for the purposes stated.

FRANK Q. STUART. Witnesses:

U. W. STUART, W. P. BEEM.

